The Hemophilus influenzae organism is a rare cause of acute purulent meningitis in adults, although it is not uncommon in children. In addition permanent neurologic complications rarely follow H influenzae meningitis in any age group. For this reason it seems important to document the occurrence of deafness produced by H influenzae meningitis in an adult and to call attention to this serious and previously unrecorded complication.

Report of CaseA 32-year-old housewife (MHMH No. 105854) entered the hospital with a chief complaint of headache, stiff neck, and deafness. She had been well until one week prior to admission when she developed an upper respiratory infection with nasal congestion, cough, and slight fever. She was examined by her local physician who treated her symptomatically without using antibiotics. These symptoms persisted, and on the day prior to admission she developed a severe headache that was frontal and then occipital in location, and